Podiatry dust extraction drills are a common piece of practice equipment which often do a lot of work, they can also be expensive to repair should they fail. There are several points to consider to ensure a long and trouble free life for your drill.
1. Change your dust bag regularly One of the easier ways to improve the suction on your dust extraction drill is to change your dust bag more often. Whilst this may mean an increase in dust bag costs, the motor will experience less strain which can over time lead to motor failure. You will also notice an improvement in the suction, which can drop as much as 50% with a three quarter full bag.
2. Get your drill serviced at least annually As with all podiatry practice equipment, getting your drill serviced regularly can prevent many problems occurring in the first place. This is especially true with hand pieces as they can wear quickly under heavy use. Ask your supplier about the service facilities they offer or if they know of anybody who can maintain your drill.
3. Check your burrs & mandrels Faulty or defective burrs and mandrels commonly used with dust extraction drills can often lead to costly hand piece repairs. It is advised that you periodically check your burrs for straightness with a burr alignment tool as well as looking for pitted shaft’s or worn heads.
4. Burr size and quality Manufacturers of dust extraction drills and hand-pieces more importantly, advise not to use any burr with a head size over 6mm.
5. Is it up to the job? Is the drill up to the level of use? there are many dust extraction drills in the market but many in the lower price bracket lack either sufficient suction, or use cheaper component parts like motors and internal soundproofing. If the drill is to be used frequently then it is advised to ask your supplier if the drill is suitable for heavy use. Do you have a tips for getting the best from your dust extraction drill? Share them below.
You have any used dust extractors
Hi Christopher,
Thank you for your comment, I’m afraid I don’t have any at present.
You could try Chiromart.
I am looking for the hand piece for a Suda Type 381. The drill handle gets hot with little use?
Do you know the agents for this make/model?
Hi Kevin, for Suda products you can try http://www.fcaseco.co.uk/. Regards Adrian
Hi Adrian:
I am wondering if there are any recommendations on how often the dust bags are to be changed? I’m working on an Infection Control document for Canadian foot care, and I’ve been unable to find any “best practice” recommendations.
Thanks, Andrea
Hi Andrea, thank you for your question. I know this may sound obvious but dust bags should be changed as often as possible. The fuller a bag becomes the less effective a drill’s vacuum becomes (think domestic vacuum). Many dust extraction drills have indicator lights. Consideration to the amount and types of treatment should be taken. You may want to bring in a regular routine like once in the morning and once at the end of the day?